Across the planet our jobs are continuing to push people to and past the limit. Rising levels of stress and long hours at work continue to exact a needlessly harsh toll. Despite billions lost to absenteeism, rising turnover, disability, insurance costs, workplace accidents, violence, workers compensations, lawsuits and the costs related to replacing workers for stress-related problems, few company’s take employee wellbeing seriously, because, you know, it’s squishy and soft. Well, I say, perhaps 2018 is the year for your company to seriously rethink soft.
Soft Can be There for You
In our globally hyper competitive world, is not getting the most from your people critical? In a constantly shifting environment, your organization is faced with how to keep up with the rate of change, retain good people, be more productive and to be innovative all at the same time. Your organization must constantly spring forth fresh new ideas to keep its competitive advantage. But how do you do this? Warning: We are about to get soft here…you do it through the well-being of your people.
The Benefits of Soft
Happy, healthy and engaged people impact your business’s bottom-line. In a sweeping study, the Gallop Organization has shown that regardless of country or region, personal wellbeing is directly linked to employee engagement and improved business results. Add to this a current compendium in Forbes of engagement research and the case becomes even more compelling. Here, 28 studies demonstrate how employee engagement positively drives service, sales, quality, safety, retention, profit and shareholder returns. Talk about the power of soft!
Wellbeing propels employee engagement and it is precisely this discretionary emotional commitment that you’ll want to tap into. An engaged employee more deeply connects to and supports your business and its goals.
Here are more reasons why embracing ‘soft’ tactics should be your top business concern for 2018. Studies show that engaged employees deliver the hard goods:
- Superior customer service and experience;
- Increased customer loyalty;
- Better sales results;
- Increased innovation and product quality;
- Improved safety;
- Increased retention;
- Decreased absenteeism;
- Increased revenue, profit & shareholder returns;
- You’ll be helping your employees and their families;
- You’ll sleep better at night.
As the studies stack up, businesses that want to retain and get the best from their people would do well to leverage the links between well-being, engagement and increased revenue, profit and shareholder returns. So get on with it. Why not give soft and squishy a hug in 2018?
Brockway specializes in personal and professional sustainability with a focus in the areas of leadership, wellbeing and employee engagement. We have a variety of products and services to help you reach your individual, team or corporate goals.
If you would like to learn more, we would love to talk to you!
